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Our Trip to Grand Cayman

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Rarely do I get a chance to go on a business trip with my whole family.  So I was excited to be able to bring them all along with me to Grand Cayman (of all places!).  The greater blessing of the trip was that this one happened to be longer than my usual long weekend trips, so we were able to enjoy some good family time.  Our whole family is indebted to Pastor Jeff Akenberger of the Midland, MI district for facilitating it all.

The purpose of the trip was multifaceted: (1) to hold youth revival and evangelistic meetings, (2) to meet with conference and union officials to develop a strategy for a GYC in the islands, and (3) to visit Adventist and non-Adventist secondary schools to talk about challenges being faced: peer pressure, excellence, sexual abuse, etc.

Pastors Dixon and Blythe, conference and union youth directors, respectively, were also with us for most of the time.

During the mornings, we visited schools.  Jeff and Daniel Jean-Francois (CAMPUS Chaplain at Michigan Tech) gave talks to the young people.  Scott Bennett was the singer and we made good use of him — he sang his head off!  Evening messages were divided between Jeff and myself, with Daniel and Judy giving talks on relationships before each sermon. 

The highlight of the evening meetings for me was when someone walked in from the streets and made a decision to get baptized!  The meetings were held in a tent right outside the church.  People who would walk by the church on their way to running errands could hear the messages.  I remember seeing two gentlemen walking by and stopping to listen.  Usually, people would listen for a few minutes and then walk on.  When these two walked away, I thought they’d continue on their errands, but they came around the wall that separated the church lot from the street sidewalk, walked to the front of the tent, and sat down.  During the following evening’s appeal, one of them made a decision to study and join the church!

The trip was among the best I’ve been on, and I was thankful for the opportunity to serve.  Here are some pics.


Me getting the boys ready, while Judy (family photographer) ensures that our camera is working and ready to go!  The boys had to get used to wearing little clothes.  In order to prevent sudden shock, we had to get them accustomed to this change in the familiar environment of their natural habitat. 


Our arrival to Grand Cayman.  BTW, we hate Delta Airlines.  Just had to get that off my chest. 


The boys are happy to discover that the new world has a much warmer climate!  It SNOWED at home the day before we left. 


The team, minus Judy (the team photographer). 


Judy getting ready for her talks based on Adventist Home.


Jeff and Daniel eating breakfast


Scott singing Jeff’s favorite song: “Watch the Lamb” during the Sunday concert. 


The Union Youth Director came in from Jamaica. 

 
The Conference Youth Director and his family.  Awesome hosts and great Christians!


Sometimes, in the mornings we would go out to the beach and swim for a couple of hours during our free time.  Micah loves the water, but got really scared with the waves and was traumatized for a long time.  He is now okay with taking tubbies again.

 
To cope with his trauma he acted as though he wanted to play the sand, but in reality was eating it!  Sneaky little guy!
 
 
Decided to take a family picture.  We missed Daniel Mendez and Stephanie Quick, our two favorite family photographers!


Trying to go for round two.  But it didn’t work.


So we decided to teach Daniel how to swim.  Here he is mastering Lesson #1: Learn how to float


He was so excited to pass with flying colors that he didn’t notice the bunny ears Jeff was giving him. 


The stingray looking thing in the water is Daniel.  Micah made a friend whose name was Emma!  There she is sitting next to him, ready to protect. 


We ate at an Italian restaurant.

 
Micah is not ready to hear his daddy preach every night!  Once a week is already too much! 


On Sabbath, we were pleasantly surprised to see that Jukes and Aileen decided to take a last-minute vacation to the Grand Cayman.  It was so awesome to see them there.  We got to spend some nice time with them.  Uncle Jukes is Manu’s favorite uncle, even though Auntie Aileen always feeds Manu.  Micah, however, melts everytime he sees his Auntie Aileen.

For fun, we visited Stingray City, a turtle farm, and a Dolphin Discovery that was owned by Adventist businessman Gene Thompson.


Daniel picking up Big Daddy.  His shell weighs more than 300 lbs. 


Manu was afraid to touch the turtles at first, but then he wouldn’t let them go.


Micah is not petting the turtle.  He’s examining its texture to see if the standards of edibility are good enough for him.


Since they weren’t, he converted to veggieism


Getting ready for the dolphins. 


Manu reflecting on his experience with the dolphins.  He had some regrets.  When the dolphin came to get a kiss, he replied “I don’t want to kiss him, he should kiss me!”


For two of the days, we took a few hours of family time and got a hotel.    


More swimming for Manu, that’s all he likes to do at this point.


Micah is excited for the night’s menu


Evidence that I used to model and still have it in me 


Sun setting for romance


Me ordering room service


Manu taking swimming to the bathtub

For the record, as soon as the food arrived, I had to go preach.  When I got home, they were all asleep and the food was all gone! 

 

The End. 

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A Beary Special Treat

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Yesterday, I awakened to Israel frantically calling for me saying, “Judy! Judy! Come over here quick! There’s a bear!” It was the quickest I had gotten out of bed in a long time but it was well worth it. There was a black bear wandering around in our backyard! It was so cute and I felt like running out there to give it a hug or to help it find some food, but my better judgment helped me refrain. Manu really enjoyed watching it too. We got some pictures although it was pretty far away. I have been wanting to see a bear in the U.P. since we moved and I’m thankful that God granted me this little joy…even if it was almost 3 years later. Now the only thing left on my list is a pack of wolves…

bear2
Searching for food after a long hibernation.

bear
Israel was whistling at it so it looked at us.

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A Rough Week for Micah

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This week, Micah has gone through so much.  I feel so sorry for him.  I will not go into details, but he had a very traumatic experience, he’s had to go to the hospital twice, he’s on antibiotics, he had to get a lead/iron test and 6 vaccines (in the same visit – 1 on each arm and 2 on each thigh), he has diarrhea (-I think from the medication), and this all happened without his daddy and brother around.  Lucky me. 

I felt so sorry for him on the way home from his doctor’s appointment today so I took him out to eat at Quiznos.  I thought I’d officially make it a “first date” tradition.  (I wrote a post on my first date with Manu way back before Micah was born.  It was actually at about the same age.  We went to Quiznos.)  It was nice.  He only wanted to eat the Baked Lays and the cookie…oh, and lots of juice.  He was so giddy off of the raspberry lemonade that he would just look at the other customers and giggle.  Anyway, he just looks so pathetic.  But he is holding up strong. 

We have one bit of good news.  His height percentile has surpassed his weight percentile!  He is no longer “overweight”!  🙂  His height is 75% and weight is 60%.  I think walking has really slimmed him down.  Yay for Micah!! 

He is starting to talk a lot more and really express himself.  His fav sentence by far is “More, Mama.”  He’ll repeat this over and over to anyone who has something he wants.  Well, he’s obviously talking to me, but he wants me to give him whatever that person has.  He likes to pretend he’s talking on the phone (with any object that he can put to his ear).  He’ll babble and then say, “Buh-Bye!”  He enjoys telling Bentley “No” or “Down” when he is trying to steal his food.  Then he gives in and feeds him some anyway.  Oh, and his new favorite instrument during Sabbath worship is the kazoo.  With Micah on the kazoo and Manu on the harmonica, worships can get quite lively…with me singing solo.  It’s lots of fun, though.  Micah is super-silly.  We thought Manu was silly…but Micah far surpasses him, particularly with is cheesy laugh and fake babble.  And of course, he is a monkey and copies everything his brother does. 

As I speak, Israel, Manu and Uncle Daniel are on their way home from the CAMPUS year-end meeting.  It has been 3 days since they left us.  Micah and I have truly bonded these past few days.  I’m thankful for the quality time we were able to have together.  I’m also glad that the Lord watched over us and kept us safe.  He always seems to give me strength in due season.  Well, the weather is warming up and in a funny way, I feel as though a new chapter of our lives is beginning.  At the same time, I feel like I have no idea what I’m writing about.  Anyway, that’s all I want to share.  I think I need a nap… 


Micah after I buzzed his hair for the first time.  🙂             

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The Scavenger Hunt (after Easter)

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So, I’ve been known to be cheap.  Maybe I should rephrase that.  I’ve been known to only buy things that are on sale (and thus cheap)…and I relish in the fact that I am getting a great deal.  Now I don’t think I was born like this.  I was raised to be quite frugal, but I’ve had a couple of crucial key experiences in my life that have caused me to be as I am…  

DKAY – (Detroit Korean Adventist Youth – the original “KAY” as far as I’m concerned) was at one time filled with like-minded individuals.  We always had annual Christmas Gift Exchanges.  I think we still do in fact.  Anyway, as opposed to everyone get the gifts anytime/anywhere, on the day after Thanksgiving – aka Black Friday – we would ALL go to the Birch Run Outlets to get our gifts.  Meaning we got gifts 1)from outlets and 2)on sale.  You cannot get a better deal than that.  You can imagine just how far the $15-$20 could go with items being up to 75% off!  I think one year we actually waited until after X-mas day (to have it joint with New Years) so we got some really killer sales then too.  So, thank you, all of you DKAY “OG”s!  I wouldn’t be the way I am without you!  

GODIVA CHOCOLATIERS TWELVE OAKS was my first job when I was in high school.  It was a wonderful job…low stress, decent pay, and lots of yummy benefits.  Holidays were the busiest times – particularly Valentines, Christmas, and Easter.  The price of our chocolates back then was $31 per pound.  Now (-I just looked on their website) it is up to $40 per pound!  Anyway, people would easily spend $60+ for gift baskets on special occasions.  However, the day after, all holiday items would be marked 50% off.  That combined with my employee discount, it was an absolute steal!  Now, to me, it just doesn’t make any sense how someone could buy something paying twice the amount just to give a gift “on time”.  In fact, after the first time Israel bought me some Godiva chocolates, I told him about the day after half-off sales. So, every time after that, he always waited until the day after.  If your boyfriend did that to you, perhaps you’d think it was pretty low and ghetto.  But, I didn’t mind one bit! 

So, with all of that said, I will share my final experience (today) that may continue on as a Ramos Family Tradition.  Israel was gone for the past week for conference and GYC meetings.  He came home late last night and since today is Monday, he took the day off.  So, we thought of the perfect, fun, family activity.  Yesterday was Easter and today was the day after.  We went to Walmart and everything “Eastery” was 50-75% off.  So, we got some “Eastery” things there and planned a Scavenger Hunt for the boys.    Using about $6, we had everything that we needed – easter eggs, easter baskets, and easter goodies among other goodies.    


Green basket for Imanuel, Blue basket for Micah.  75 cents each.

I think we had around 20 decorative and sports-themed eggs that I filled and hid around the house.  Imanuel not understanding that they are supposed to look like “eggs” made this comment about their shapes:  “Mama, basketballs and baseballs aren’t like this, only footballs are like this!”

Bentley helped me hide the eggs…NOT.  More like tried to steal them and sneak off with them!  That’s why we’re still missing one now.  The game is not over yet!

What a wonderful surprise inside!!  An individually-wrapped PRUNE!  Don’t worry, they weren’t all filled with prunes.  (Although Imanuel thought they were yummy too!)  Others had fruit snacks and candies too. 

Imanuel stuffing a prune in his mouth.  He was very happy today.  And he learned how to be a good egg/ball hunter!

Daddy helped Micah find the eggs so he technically cheated.  But he had fun getting them and putting them in his little blue basket.  🙂  Eating the goodies was obviously his favorite part.

Until next time bunny basket…

Well, that was the story of today.  I hope all of you are inspired to take advantage of “day-after” sales.  Hallmark and other stores (like Walmart) make business by pressuring us into spending tons of money to celebrate a “day”.  I say, take advantage of the “after holidays”!  We could start a revolution.

“When you’re getting a great deal, things are always more fun and exciting”!  – Judy R. Ramos        

Good night, all.

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My Mouse Problem

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This morning, there was a dead mouse in the boys’ bedroom. 

First, I wanted to get the boys out of that room without them seeing it.  I got them out, then my mind began racing with different thoughts: 

Was it Chance or Aroe?  Did the murder take place during the night in the presence of the kids?  All of the bacteria/parasites that were on the mouse have probably dispersed all over the carpet/toys/clothes…that room is contaminated!  I should get the vacuum.  Bentley was lingering in the room…maybe he was the one who had transported the poor thing from wherever the cats did the deed to the bedroom.  I could see teeth marks on the body of the mouse.  How it must have suffered because of a member of my family!  I should be happy that my cats are controlling the mouse problem!  Who can be happy with death?  I was a little annoyed.  Annoyed that Israel had to be gone TODAY out of all days (-and for the week for that matter).  This isn’t the first time I had to take care of a dead mouse.  And he knows how I feel about animals and how I’d probably be in mourning for the next month thinking about the possibility that that mouse was somebody’s mother.  If he were here, he’d take care of it no problem and forget about it.  I could call Alanna…but she is in class…and why would I bother her and have her come all the way here when I can just do it?  A church member?  JUDY, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF.  (But if we still lived in Ypsi, I could just ask Greg, our neighbor.  Wait, he’s probably at work.  I could have waited til he gets home from work…) 

I had to take care of the situation whether I liked it or not. 

I went into the room and looked by the heater.  The mouse was GONE.  I knew Bentley wasn’t in the room and so I angrily called, “AROE” and began looking under the crib.  Chance, for sure, wasn’t in the room.  I was not about to fight my cat for the disposal of a mouse.  There was no Aroe.  But the dead mouse was under Micah’s crib.  I was on my hands and knees trying to figure out how in the world the dead mouse moved from the heater to under the crib…when all of a sudden, the mouse hobbled a few steps.  I could not believe it.  The dead mouse was alive!  But badly injured.  It was hobbling around with its eyes closed.  I then could not believe that I was going to have to somehow take care of this half-dead mouse.  I was not feeling too fond of my cruel cats at this moment.  So I waited and it hobbled around some more but it was getting closer to some of the kids’ toys.  I went over there to move them and the mouse hopped into Imanuel’s house slipper (-the one he got for his birthday).  As I came closer, the mouse opened its eyes very widely.  This made me feel mixed emotions.  He appeared not as hurt as I thought.  I was glad I wouldn’t need to face the dilemna of whether or not I should take it out of its misery…or if I should let the cats finish their work.  It would survive (for now)!  But I started freaking out because how was I supposed to transport a living mouse to the outdoors?!  I emptied the boys’ trash bin quickly and came back.  The mouse was still in Imanuel’s house slipper. 

I gained courage (believe it or not) thinking of Ralph S. Mouse – one of my favorite childhood books.  He was nice.  And people have pet mice all the time!  This is just a nice animal…that one of my cats almost killed…that is wild…and may carry some horrible disease…

I managed to stick the slipper with the mouse into the trash bin and slowly took it outside.  I wasn’t sure where to let him go.  I went out the front because the cats usually hang out by the deck in the back.  But there was no shelter in the front.  And it is still cold with snow on the ground and it probably wouldn’t survive with its injuries.  So, I ended up walking around all the way to the back and finally letting him go under our deck. 

I keep going back and forth on this.  I appreciate the fact that my cats help keep the mouse population in the house down, but when I see a mouse in danger with hope of living, I can’t help but want to save it.  (This isn’t the first mouse that I have “saved” from my cats.) 

I recounted this story (without so much inner details) to Imanuel.  I explained to him for the first time that our cats kill mice.  He seemed a bit shocked.  I recalled the story, “When God Washed the World” which talks about how animals and people turned wicked after sin.  Then he exclaimed, “But tigers don’t kill turtles…they’re friends!”  I have no idea where that came from.  Anyway, he just doesn’t understand the concept of death.  But what I do want him to understand is that no matter how common and “natural” death is (-particularly in nature), that’s not how it’s supposed to be.  Namely, I shouldn’t be struggling with whether I’d like my cats to eliminate our mice problem or if I don’t want the mice to suffer and die! 

This world is so “naturally” filled with competition, aggression, indifference, fear, rotting, and death.  I trust that in this sin-sickened world, the way that the Lord allows nature to play out in the “circle of life” is the best way.  But I don’t think we should ever forget the way it is supposed to be.  I want to instill in my kids to love and appreciate nature, and to always be reminded that death (even of animals and plants) is a sad result of sin.  But that should motivate us to live faithfully to hasten His soon return. 

What an experience!  Not pleasant at all.  Just another reason why I don’t like Israel being away! 

   
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At the Kleinsters’ Place…

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 So, it was such a nice reunion at the Kleins’.

Three women, wives, mothers, & friends.  All members of Ann Arbor Seventh-day Adventist Church (at one point).  All teachers (at one point) at Ann Arbor Adventist Elementary.  All pregnant at the same time (almost twice)!!  All quit teaching to be at home with their kids.  All aspiring violin players.  All healthy-eaters (or at least wannabe).  All “Little House” fans.  All Carob-Crunchy fans.  All wishing we could start a mini-school where we could team-teach our kids.  (It’d be the absolute BEST school ever.)  All planning a LONG vacation to the U.P. so they can spend time with the Ramoses who left them almost 3 years ago, right?!     

Julie & John, Kerri & Daniel, Judy, & all the children!  (Minus Israel.  )   


Chomping on haystacks & smoothies!  It was YUMMY!

Partying for a belated birthday bash for Manu. 

Julie & Kerri posing with pretty smiles.

Playing games!  Their house is like toy-heaven.

Playing with Lincoln Logs (or maybe more like demolishing!)

Scrabbling. 

Smiling Jessica – Julie’s brown-eyed baby!

Judy reading and the rest of the kids listening.  (Judy is 6 years old and is reading “Little House” books already…she is a child genius!  And maybe a teacher in the making?!)

The kids chilling.

Thanks, Kleins, for hosting us!  Thanks Daniel (& Kerri too) for taking the pics!  The next party will be at our place this summer.  We miss you all!  

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Growing Pains

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It’s been at least a couple months now since Imanuel has been complaining about pain in his legs.  Particularly his knee.  It would always be after I put him down for bed in the evening.  He would come out and start crying and saying that he hurt his knee.  But whenever I asked him if he bumped it somewhere, he’d say “no”.  It just hurt.  The first couple weeks of this, I thought it was a ploy to get himself out of going to bed.  So, I didn’t have much mercy and would just make him go to bed.  He would cry and cry.  After it kept reoccuring (-it wouldn’t hurt for several days in between), I began to think and pray. 

Then the Lord brought to my remembrance a short conversation that we had had with our realtor, Kristen, when we first began trying to sell our house 3 years ago.  She mentioned that her son was going through growing pains.  At first I didn’t know what this meant.  I thought maybe she was saying that he was going through a rough phase emotionally in his life.  But she went on to say that she had been massaging his legs every night because they really are bothering him.  That’s when I exclaimed, “Growing pains are real?!  Like a literal, physical pain from growing?” 

I never knew that before.  Anyway, I’m glad we had that short conversation because I believe that is what Imanuel is/has been going through.  I did some research online and his symptoms from the unexplained leg/knee pain usually in the evening or at night, and the fact that he fits the age categories of 3, 5, or 8 years, all point to this.  I read that this happens to about 30% of all kids.  How lucky of Imanuel to be a part of this elite group!  From time to time, he will wake up in the middle of the night and just start crying/whimpering.  Then, it will get worse and worse until he opens the door and starts yelling for me and saying that his knees hurt.  So far the best thing that has helped ease his pain is massaging and putting a heat pack.  I’m not sure what else could work.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

So, now I know that “growing pains” is not only the name of a great TV show from back in the day, nor is it an expression used for drama during adolescence, it is a real pain that Imanuel is unfortunately going through!  Pray for us!

      

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Our Little Miracle

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This past Friday, the Lord gave us a little miracle. 

It was a crazy day because I was frantically trying to clean our house, cook dinner, and get us ready for the Sabbath, in general.  A turn of events found us in the boys’ bedroom where I was changing Micah’s diaper and Imanuel was crying because he just had a little accident where he hurt his leg.  It felt better as we were walking out of the room, but as I swung the door shut, I didn’t realize that Imanuel had his fingers in the crack of the door where the hinges are.  I literally heard a crunch.  I immediately swung the door open and pulled his finger out.  He had never cried like this before.  It was one of those silent cries where he didn’t breathe for about a minute but his face was contorted to form the most pitiful, pained look.  I tried hugging him, but his body was frozen and stiff.  Needless to say, he was in some serious pain and I felt so terrible.  After about 5 minutes of crying and whimpering, he calmed down enough to let me know that his finger hurt.  Then he went on to ask, “Why did you close the door and hurt me?”  And then he started balling again.  Yes, I felt horrible.  Anyway, I explained that it was an accident and he knew that.  His finger was blue and majorly dented where the edge of the door pinched his finger against the wall.  He was sitting on our green couch when he looked at me and said,

“Mama, I want to pray and ask Jesus to heal me.” 

I told him that that was a GREAT idea.  So, I asked him to pray and he did.  It went something to this effect: 

“Dear God, Please help my finger to feel better and heal me.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen”. 

I had wrapped a little bandage around it, but right after we prayed, I decided to take that off and I asked him if he wanted a bandaid.  I took off the bandage and looked at his finger (-it was primarily his pointer finger that got pinched).  Then I momentarily got confused because I didn’t see the bruise or the dent.  So, I got his other hand and looked at that finger.  Manu was like,

“It was this finger.  It doesn’t hurt anymore.” 

He started wiggling it and moving it around.  I touched it and asked if it hurt and he said “no”.  I think I was more shocked than him.  Anyway, I kept looking at his finger over and over again and touching and pressing here and there in disbelief.  I was so surprised and said, “Your finger is better!!”  Then Imanuel exclaimed, “I want to pray again and say ‘Thank You’ to Jesus!”  I agreed that that would be a good idea.  He prayed and thanked Jesus and said that He was “so nice” to heal his finger! 

I must admit that after this whole ordeal, I began to doubt this miracle.  I was rationalizing. 

Babies and little kids have super-quick and efficient immune systems.  Little cuts and bruises heal so quickly!  Maybe that’s why it went away so fast…etc.etc  But I’m so glad that Imanuel thinks it was Jesus!

As if God was trying to prove Himself, Imanuel got hurt a couple hours later.  He bit himself on his fingernail.  He was crying and crying again.  It was a little red.  I immediately suggest that we pray since that worked last time.  So, I prayed for his little finger.  After I said, “Amen”, I asked if his finger felt better.  He said, “no” and continued to say that it still hurts and that he needs a bandaid.  It hurt for the next 10 minutes and he wouldn’t stop whining about it. 

Sometimes I believe God must get so frustrated with my unbelief and hypocrisy.  He knew that often when I pray with my kids to “help” them with a problem, (or even to thank Him for that matter!) it is more of a lesson to teach this “good habit” as opposed to really believing that even at this young age, God could truly answer any petition we ask Him and that He is our Lord who is beyond worthy of our worship.   

I’m so thankful for this experience for my son & for myself.  There is no doubt in my mind that Imanuel believes with his whole heart that Jesus healed his finger because He is “so nice” AND that He is able and willing to help us.  And now I believe it too.  I was so rebuked by this experience.  God truly does care.  He wants to reveal Himself to us.  He is just asking for a simple, child-like faith. 

Prayer is such a privilege and I hope to never take it for granted again.

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Another Sabbath is Here

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 After a tiresome week of traveling (-driving down to Lansing, meetings, visiting, & driving back up), we arrived back home and are adjusting back to normal life.  Traveling always has a way of throwing things off when it comes to parenting.  Not only does it mess up the daily routine/schedule, but it always leaves opportunity experiences that make character building challenging.  I must add that often times new experiences and influences greatly benefit children.  But outside of the safety and protection of home, you never know what will come up.  It takes a lot of wisdom and patience to discern what you should/shouldn’t do.  I think I could write forever on this topic since we do so much traveling, but I’ll refrain for now.  Let’s just say that I’m glad to be home where Imanuel’s bed which is easily accessible when it’s obviously nap time and with Micah’s toys so he is content to play on his own…for the most part. 

I think I can officially say that he can walk, but half of the time he wants to hold my hand and a quarter of the time he still crawls.  So, we’re almost there.

We got home on Tuesday afternoon and on Thursday (-yesterday), we found ourselves driving Israel to the airport for another trip.  He is in Germany for ATS Youth.  What a lucky duck.  I sometimes wish he had a video camera attached to his forehead that was always on “record” so we could share in his experiences.  That would be preferable to us actually going with him.  I must add that many people often ask me how it is that I manage by myself without Israel when he goes on these trips – taking care of the babies and the pets, keeping the wood stove burning, working for GYC, cooking, cleaning etc. 

The answer is quite simple. 

First of all, Israel always asks my permission to go on a trip.  Now just to make things clear, I’ve never told him “no” except once.  And that was for New in Ministry the week Micah was due (in the middle of winter).  How can I say “no” to God’s calling?  I don’t think I could live with myself.  I also trust his judgment because he has sometimes said “no” himself. 

Secondly, he always offers to fly all of us over when possible (-using airmiles, of course).  I know that is what he really wants.  However, I usually tend to make the head-not-heart decision to stay home.  It’s just so much easier that way. 

And thirdly, I’ve found that in a strange way, him being away occassionally on these trips has actually strengthened our own presonal relationships with God as well as our marriage relationship.  Sometimes we need to be away from each other to truly appreciate them.  And when we’re away from each other, we have more alone time with God.  I think that’s important.  So, while this may sound strange, Israel being gone is often a blessing!   

We often bicker about which is more difficult:  to be the one left at home or to be the one gone on a trip.  I think being left at home is definitely more difficult because you’re at home in your element missing someone in your everyday life.  On the other hand, when you are on a trip and you leave your family at home, you are experiencing a completely different lifestyle/schedule and usually you are busy enough to keep yourself occupied. 

Anyway, to sum it up, it’s difficult and it always will be.  But I think it’s been much more manageable since I’ve realized that God often uses Israel’s trips to reveal Himself more to me AND since Imanuel can talk now and we can actually hold a conversation.  He also is my little helper and is always willing to be there for me (-unless he is napping).     

As Sabbath approaches, our little family traditions make us miss Israel even more.  From Friday dinner to Sabbath family worships, it’s not the same without him.  (And it’s impossible for us to read the Spanish story with any clarity!)  It has been about a month since Micah started partaking* in the Sabbath Roll (-minus the dah-guang: pickled radish).  He can down an entire roll by himself and eat plenty of edamame on the side.  I think that’s his favorite meal for sure.  Imanuel eats 1.5 rolls.  So, for those of you who understand how much this is, when I make the rolls for our family, I have to make 4 cups of rice!  Anyway, it was a good day and I’m glad it is the Sabbath.        

*And speaking of partaking, a couple Sabbaths ago, I forgot it was communion Sabbath and therefore forgot bring an alternative, unblessed, edible distraction for the boys.  Surprisingly, Imanuel didn’t mind not partaking at all.  Praise the Lord!  I think Grandma Karen explained it to him.  Micah on the other hand was a mess.  We had to hide our bread (-“we” meaning me and the two ladies sitting on both sides of me) but when the juice came, it was over.  He kept grunting and lunging for our juices.  Oh, and he did remember to emphatically sign “please” plenty of times.  Next time, I’m sitting in the back.      

Here are some pics that we wanted to share with Daddy of us eating our Sabbath Rolls:

   
I cut Micah’s rolls skinnier because I knew he would stuff them in his mouth whole.  I caught him once trying to stuff 2 at a time.  When his mouth is filled to capacity, he requests a swig of “Sabbath juice” then swallows it all in one gulp.  I think when he gets older, we’ll sign him up for the veggie hot dog eating contest (-if that exists).  We’ll be rich. 
 
the Micah and his “kim-bbops”.
 
Manu ate with his new chopsticks today.  We got complimentary kids’ trainers from P.F. Chang’s (for Tennille’s birthday!) while we were in Lansing. 

Manu demonstrating his skills.

We love Sushi!  🙂

In Virum Perfectum